They must think we’re idiots. The manufacturers of robots and other intelligent machines are now adorning them with cutesy faces in the belief that such human touches will assuage people’s fear about losing their jobs to the machines. While it’s true that intelligent machines can seem empathetic and that some people do actually develop a kind of bond with certain machines, there’s no evidence that a smiley face will lower the rising (and entirely appropriate) anxiety level among working men and women. A more effective approach would be to – gasp! – tell the truth about the end state of this technology in the workplace.  The robots that are now scrubbing floors and stocking shelves will in the not too distant future be answering customer questions, ringing up their purchases and managing the store. #TheBook2118 #AI